Dog-Sitting

Warning: lots of cute photos in this one...

I have a confession to make (it's been a while): I grew up totally terrified of dogs.  It was only in the last few years, when my parents got a dog, that I learned how to be not terrified.  (I also read a couple of books, narrated by dogs - sounds weird I know - that helped me understand a bit more).  If I'd received the text I received late on Thursday evening 5 years ago, I would have said no.  But I didn't even give it a second thought.  The text ran along the lines of, I'm going away for a few days, the person who said they would look after the dogs has just bailed, would you help me out?  As I'm on holidays and no longer terrified of dogs, I said yes.  Except for one day, and someone else could manage that day.

Some things I learned:
Even an anxious dog, who doesn't recognise you, will recognise a dog lead.  A bit snarly and yappy turns instantly to tail-wagging.

You can't get a lead on without a collar.  (One dog could only get a whole lot of Ball Time and Out-in-the-yard Time because he'd removed his collar and hidden it well). 

I think this was my first time actually putting on a lead and walking a dog.  Thankfully, this is a really small dog.

Dogs attract.  Every walk we had, at least one person would approach - "Oh what a sweet puppy" "I have one just like him" etc.  The second day, a couple of girls (about 8 and 10) hovered a bit, so I asked if they wanted to say hello... They smothered him in kisses and told me all about their lives and their pets and then gave me a flower.

You can train a dog really quickly.  Feeding time the first day, I did what I have to do with my parents' dog: Dog is told to sit and stay; dog must stay until given the okay.  First dog took about 5 'stay's before showing that maybe he realised he shouldn't try to lick the plate while it was still in my hand.  Second day, I told him to sit, and he sat; I told him to stay, and he stayed; and when I said okay, he had his dinner. 

A well-trained dog will let you know if you're doing something wrong.

Even little dogs can run and make the person on the other end of the lead run too. 

The other part of this experience was feeding the chickens.  Once I'd found the jug for the feed (I had absolutely no idea how much grain to feed 5 chickens so was rather thankful for this guide) this was a piece of cake. 

I didn't take my camera the first day, and really regretted it - the light was still good the second day, but not quite as amazing.

Outfit #87 - Melbourne Cup and Minute Taking

Outfit details:
Dress: Jeanswest (op shop).  Top: Suite Boutique.  Ribbon: from a skirt.  Shoes: Show Story (op shop).  Earrings: Mombasa.

Today was Melbourne Cup day.  You have to wear fabulous shoes for Melbourne Cup...I think it's the law...  So I adhere to this even though I have worked through every Melbourne Cup race in my memory.  These are pretty fabulous shoes.

I received so many shoe compliments, right from the word go.  The best, though, was when I picked up a grade 4 girl from music.  Her music teacher said "Love the shoes!" and a circle of 20 or so 9-yr-old girls whipped their heads around and craned their necks to see my shoes and go (in unison) 'ooohhhhhh....'.  Worth it.

The other part of today was a big change for me.  Cathedral council meeting tonight, and after being on it for 2 years, this was my first minute-taking experience.  Ever.  And just to make my poor brain have even more of a fit, the meeting was conducted out of order.  I haven't typed them up yet so I don't know how much of an effect this will actually have on my minute-taking skills.  It was out of order for a really good reason - there is a proposed monstrosity for a site adjacent to the cathedral and we are now in the process of objecting to it.

Today's photo:

These green leaves  brighten my day whenever I see them.  Curiously, I don't seem to notice them so much during the middle of the day, but the light hits them differently at the ends of the day.

Outfit #76 - Hot Spring Sleepyhead

Outfit details:

Skirt: Jay Jays (op shop).  Singlet: Hot Options.  Shirt: Mischief (from Jeannie).  Shoes: Target.  Pendant: from Jeannie.  Earrings: made by me.

Today was rather warm.  Forecast for 28 (which always feels worse at this time of year), I didn't want anything that was restrictive or synthetic.  This worked... kinda.  When I tried on this outfit last night, I thought it looked rather spring-like.  It was not at all restrictive (maybe borderline for work standards though); not at all synthetic (it felt beautiful and soft and cool).  However, the modesty leggings, while necessary, caused the skirt to ride up the front a lot (apologies to anyone who witnessed this!).

I was also super sleepy.  Thankfully I ended up with a super-early finish, and had a nap through some next door jackhammering.  Fun.

Today's photo:

Purple flowers drifting through the breeze by the fence in the lunchtime sun.

Midday Behaviour

Today, it's hot.  It got up to 31.6 this morning, and is currently (just after 5pm) 28.2.  Inside, I'm quite comfortable, provided I'm doing not much.  I'm curious how I'll go with my run tonight though.  When I took some water out to the garden - wow.  Like stepping into an oven.  Now, I'm not normally a 'do nothing' sort of person.  Admittedly, I still have a few things on my To Do list, but I knew they would make me just want to go to sleep - especially as a nearby party kept me awake a long time last night.  So after church I lay on the sofa a bit, read the monthly publications out today, then decided to watch a movie while having lunch. 

Watching tv during the day is so foreign to me, it hardly ever happens.  This is normally reserved for a rainy card-making day, or... actually, I think that's it.  Today, I didn't even make any cards, I just watched, took notes (so I can do a review soon), had a great phone call with mum, made tonight's dinner (possibly a mistake as it got everything rather hot), had afternoon tea, and started another movie.  Next door is doing loud gardening so the movie's on hold for a bit, which is perfect for doing a blog post.  I was going to wait until tonight or tomorrow for this last movie, but this works better.  There are 3 due back Tuesday and available windows are few.  Note - I'm now able to watch part of a movie, then do something else, and come back to the movie.  Especially this one - it's really good.

Today's photo:

While making coffee (and toast - gotta have toast) the afternoon sun was making my tea jars look all pretty.  I love this blue.

Ssshhh... Please

This morning, I was on duty to serve at church.  As it turns out, I was also on duty to do the prayers - I only found out this fact because the person in front of me had a list of everyone who had a job.  Reading it, I started thinking ... why would you have a list of these things... that just seems so... why is my name there... wait, that's my name - for prayers?!  Thankfully, there are ways to do these almost on the fly.  Anyway, after communion - in the only time a server has to themselves (and even then, still keeping an eye out for if we're needed) - the person in front of me came back for a conversation. 

Now, talking in the sanctuary is a no-no.  It's distracting and just not on.  At servers' meetings, we've been reminded of this fact more than once.  However, not everyone in the sanctuary is a server, and obviously this person hasn't received the message.  In this post-communion conversation, I was as brief as possible.  I know this is not the first time this has happened, and the 'no non-essential talk' request has not made it through to this person.  I'm not good at talking, so this evening I drafted an email.  Not sent yet - I want it to be as polite as it can be, and it might need a couple of revisions before I'm happy with it. 

This whole step is new for me.  Previously, I would say and do nothing.  I might gripe about it internally, or to one or two people close to me, but nothing more.  More recently, I've started telling someone about these things - someone who has the authority and the tact to deal with it better than me.  Actually saying something myself to the person involved - this is really new.  The next level is to say something - in person, with words and all.  But for now, baby steps and emails.

Yesterday's photo:

Sometimes the sunlight looks different.  Yesterday it was looking different on the older tomato plant.

Today's photo:

Water drops and kale.  I'm loving kale.

Cartel Coffee

There is a coffee cart on Adelaide St that has often tempted me.  Cartel Coffee has that Havana vibe, I think from the little motif of a hat.  Clever.  I had never bought a coffee from there though, I'm not quite sure why.  So when Aidan said on Sunday that the coffee place outside his work does pretty fantastic coffee, and my brain put together his workplace and the coffee cart that is Cartel Coffee, I was excited.  We arranged to meet for coffee today.

This is really good coffee.  They certainly live up to their mission: good coffee, good service, good ... um... I forget the other thing.  But it was good.  I even broke with tradition (I know, right?!) and ordered a cinna-cino.  Yummy, but I think I'd stick with regular cappuccino in future.

Apart from having a very cool "I'm in Cuba" vibe (yeah, not the actual cartel association), it's organic, and it's Fair Trade.  I like.  And you get bonus feet in the photo.

Monday's photo:

First thunderstorm of the season.  I love summer storms.  This wasn't the most amazing, but it's still getting into the groove so I can deal.

Today's photo:

Early morning sunlight plus kangaroo paw (plus spider web strands).

Orange Syrup Cake, Anna-Style

Step 1.  Preparation is important.  First, make a chocolate buttermilk cake.  Lament the fact that buttermilk comes in 600mL cartons - but then find out how you can make a more normal amount of buttermilk.  Still, most of a carton remains.  Check out recipes to help use up the remainder.  Worry that there is not much space in the freezer, and ask your brother if he has room in his freezer (he does).  If necessary, have a cold that hangs around so you are off work but too sleepy to do anything, and eating oranges nearly daily to aid vitamins and feeling healthier.

Step 2.  A week later, you should feel energetic enough (in the 3 hours of energy you seem to have on selected afternoons) to attempt this cake.  One that is from a book you've had for several years...11 years, in fact...almost to the day...  Over the course of the week one of your friends will do a blog post about lemon syrup cake which should further inspire you.  On the day, realise you are down to only 1 orange.  Thankfully 1/2 an orange is hiding in the fridge from Wednesday's lunch, and there are still a couple of lemons around.  Make a cup of tea.

Step 3.  Gather ingredients.  Turn on computer, start playing Italian Cafe on iTunes, and dance when inspired.  Arrange ingredients from left to right in recipe order:
125g butter
1/2 cup (110g) sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 (260g) self-raising flour
1/2 cup (125mL) buttermilk
1 tablespoon finely grated orange rind
1/4 cup (60mL) orange juice
...and realise you have gone through way more eggs than normal this week!  Well, this is the official list of ingredients.  The 1 1/2 oranges (at the right, obviously) are joined by 2 lemons.  And you should also think while arranging these ingredients (unmeasured, un-grated, un-juiced) that your friend is so much neater in her food pictures.  Measuring everything and then taking a photo - beautiful!  Maybe in the future.

Step 4.  Turn on oven.  Aim for 'moderate' but don't actually check (to be true 'Anna-style' this will be about 150C, you discover later).  Fish out the loaf pan (14x21cm) from the baking tin cupboard.  Spray with oil, line with baking paper, then enjoy the slightly slippery cork tiles.  Recognise that sliding around is not a good idea at this time.  Measure out the butter in your favourite mixing bowl, soften it a tiny bit in the microwave, and add the sugar.  Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Add an egg, beat until just combined; add the other egg, beat until just combined.  Note how cleanly the eggs slip out of the eggshells and wonder if this has anything to do with egg freshness.

Step 5.  Measure out the flour over a sieve over a bowl.  Only, when you get to the 2nd (or is it the 3rd?) quarter cup after the full cup, stop and think - is this the 2nd or 3rd quarter?  Hmmm...  You're pretty sure it's only the 2nd quarter, so hoping you're correct, continue.  Sift flour (although, writing this, see that you misread that instruction) into bowl.  Choosing not to wear an apron today, notice at this point that your black top is collecting stray flour bits and could probably do with a wash soon.  Measure out the buttermilk, slightly reminiscent of yoghurt by this stage.  Add half the flour to the butter mix and stir with a wooden spoon.  Pour in half the buttermilk, mix.  Grate orange for the rind - the whole orange yields pretty much the tablespoon you're needing.  While you're grating, the sunlight coming through the window is making a pretty picture with the beaters and the batter, so take a few photos.  Add the rind to the mix.  So fragrant!  And yesterday you read that the fruit is named for the Sanskrit word 'narangan' which means fragrant - well named.  Juice the oranges - about 3/4 of an orange provides the 1/4 cup of juice required.  Pour it into the mix, and mix.  Add the rest of the flour (mix) and buttermilk (mix).

Step 6.  Check oven temperature and discover it's only at 150.  Increase temperature to 180.  Spread batter into prepared pan.  You have to push it a bit to spread it to the edges, and wonder if maybe you used too much flour after all.  Keep juicing the orange and lemons until you have a cup of juice; start putting a few ingredients away until oven is properly preheated, then put the tin in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes.  Take your cup of tea, mixing bowl, beaters, wooden spoon, butter knife and phone to sofa; drink tea, licking remains from implements and playing solitaire.

Step 7.  About 45 minutes into cooking time, make orange syrup: 1 cup juice into a small saucepan, 1/2 cup sugar, stir on low heat until sugar is dissolved.  Which doesn't take long at all.  Increase heat to high and bring to the boil - the sound is like an aeroplane taking off, a little bit, or like a swarm of insects.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, without stirring, 'for about 10 minutes or until syrup thickens slightly'.  [Ugh.  I'm not a fan of such vague instructions.  How much is slightly?]  After removing cake from the oven and a further 10 minutes, increase the heat to medium.  After another 5 minutes - unattended - you notice the saucepan is about to overflow with bubbling juice, and decide enough is enough, this is surely 'thickened slightly' enough.  Move the cake to a wire rack (out of the tin) over an oven tray, stick the skewer into the cake several times (even though the recipe doesn't state that you should), and pour the syrup over the cake, taking a photo or 3 while pouring.

Step 8.  Go and get dinner.  When you return, your brother and DVD Sam have beaten you back.  "Your house smells amazing" they say.  After dinner, cut 3 slices (about 2cm each) and take a few photos, including a really blurry one after a really funny comment (not food related).  Wonder how one of the plates ended up with syrup underneath it.  Appreciate the compliments of the blokes.  Watch some more of the Olympics, then slice the rest of the loaf (there are 5 more slices), wrap them each in Glad wrap, keeping them in the same order, and transfer to the freezer.  Feel rather virtuous for freezing them straight away and not saving any for coffee time in the next few days.  Think about what you can use that's in the freezer so there's more space.  Watch more of the Olympics.

Today's photo:

Another beautiful Brisbane winter day.  Another gig, this time at the Presbyterian church on St Paul's Tce in Spring Hill.  A bit of a wait to get into the church.  The play of sunlight and stonework and blue sky and clouds.

Coffee for a Cause

Yesterday I said I would be drinking coffee for a cause today.  At participating cafes, $1 per cup of coffee would go towards grassroots services for the homeless.  This was enough of a reason to drag myself out of the house.  It was a close thing - but, the one day of the year when one of my indulgences is helping others was too good to miss.

I noted all the suitable options yesterday and then chose one of the closest ones today.  Although as I nearly fell asleep on the train it could have been a slightly different story.  I had heard from a few fellow coffee afficionados (afficionadi, maybe?) that Bunker at Milton was worth a visit.  From the station I had to pass a couple of other coffee spots, which surprised me in this unassuming street. 

Bunker is well-named.  It really is in a bunker, with vines covering the walls and ceiling, a nice contrast to the otherwise industrial feel.  And the coffee.  So far this year I think it might just win.  As usual, I ordered a cappuccino, and I was pleased to see a decent amount of chocolate going on top.  I was about halfway through consuming this cappuccino when I realised the amazing chocolatey goodness I was experiencing was coming from real chocolate - not just that normal mix you find sprinkled in most places.  When I was almost finished, I realised that this is a coffee and chocolate place.  Now I have to go back.

You can't really tell from the photo above, but the clipboards show the filter coffee options, featured coffee options, something else (I knew I should have written these down!) and the special of the day (jaffa).

I arrived just before the rush, so there was minimal wait for my caffeine - I noticed the staff knew many of the names of people who came in just after me, always a nice sign.  Another plus was the music and the staff actually knowing musical things ('this performer likes A minor' for example).  I felt self-conscious taking photos though, so took the above as surreptitiously as possible, and the below shot after I had left.  The man in the photo came out just as I was snapping - sprung! 

Bunker can be found at 21 Railway Tce, Milton.   No doubt, I will also be found there again.

Today's photo:

Baking.  Afternoon light catching the dripping beaters.  Anticipation.

Sausage and Parsnip Risotto

Parsnip is quite possibly my favourite vegetable.  This current box of vegetables was the first that has contained any though (after about 15 months of deliveries).  Having eyed this recipe (from Jill Dupleix's Good Cooking: the New Essentials) for a couple of years, I was thrilled to be able to cook it tonight. 

Ingredients:
2 parsnips
1 onion, peeled
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 Italian pork sausages
4 rosemary sprigs
350g arborio rice (about 2 cups)
150mL light red wine
1.2L hot chicken stock
1 tablespoon tomato puree (paste)
1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan

Peel the parsnips, slice thickly and cook in simmering, salted water for 10 minutes.  Drain and set aside.
Halve and finely slice the onion.  Melt half the butter with the olive oil in a heavy pan, add the onion and cook for a few minutes until softened.  Skin the sausages and pinch small portions into the pan.  Fry until well browned, then take out half the sausage and set aside.
Add the rosemary and rice to the pan and stir until well coated.  Add the wine and allow to bubble for 2 minutes, stirring, until absorbed.
Add a ladleful of stock to the rice, and stir until it is absorbed.  Add another ladleful and stir constantly (but calmly) with a wooden spoon until absorbed.  Continue this process for around 15 - 20 minutes until the rice is cooked and still creamy.
Add the tomato puree, sliced parsnips, reserved sausage, remaining butter, salt and pepper, parsley and parmesan.  Heat through and serve.

This is described as 'the culinary equivalent of a blazing fire and cashmere cushions'.  I concur.  Of course, I didn't replicate this exactly...  I bought the ingredients from memory, and obviously had a different recipe in my head so bought 'inexpensive fruity red wine' instead of light red wine (I wonder which recipe it was though?!).  Not being a wine connoisseur though this didn't really make a difference to me.  I also forgot all about the rosemary, so used some dried marjoram instead - acceptable, but I'd love to use rosemary next time.  I'm not a sausage-eater so I feel really out of my depth in that part of Woollies.  'Italian pork sausages', if present, were not labeled in that way, so I settled for chorizo sausages (I have another recipe waiting for them).  Next time I probably wouldn't use sausage but I'm loving the parsnip and red wine elements. 

I don't normally tell everyone what my future posts will be, but tomorrow is the day for drinking coffee.  CafeSmart cafes are donating $1 for every cup sold to grassroots services helping people who are homeless.  Can drinking coffee get any better?!  Look for your nearest participating cafe here.

Yesterday's photo:

Computer tantrums last night stopped me posting a daily photo.  I had this salad for lunch and it was just so pretty!

Today's photo:

I looked out randomly today and saw the trees on the next street lit up from the sun.  I ran upstairs with cameras and only managed to get 2 shots before the light changed and we were back to normal clouds.  Even so, I still missed the golden tree. 

The Pictures by the Stairs

I didn't go to work today - this cold has been hanging around for a while and I just want it gone.  Today, then, I had breakfast and coffee... then I slept for the rest of the day.  One thing I've been itching to do since Saturday, though, is to rearrange the things hanging on the walls.  This was the most energy I could expend today, apart from boiling the kettle and moving from the bed to the sofa. 

Two things prompted this current stage of change: I noticed when my niece's drawing made it to the top of the keyboard, that the frame of the photo already sitting there was sitting lower and lower; and I was given a beautiful (and appropriate!) card for my birthday.

For maybe a couple of years, I've had these 4 frames with wrapping paper near the top of the lower stairs. 

Having now added more personal items, I plan to replace the paper bits with other photos I've taken myself. 

I need to replace some printer ink though before I can print anything.  And from this angle it looks a little uneven...

How nice is this card?!  Thanks Jeannie!

Today's photo:

Pattern.  While having coffee this morning, the sun was lovely, creating sharp lines with the clothes line and the fence.

Outfit #53 - All Knitted Out

Outfit details:

Dress: Country Road (op shop).  Top: Dotti.  Stockings: maybe from Myer...?  Boots: Sandler.  Earrings: made by me.  Jacket: Sportsgirl (from Jeannie).  Scarf: Alta Linea (gift).

I got so excited on the weekend when I realised I had a pair of stockings I hadn't worn yet this year.  Grey, striped, knit - so I was hoping my legs would be slightly warmer than they were yesterday.  It worked - I was warmer.  But the vertical stripes are not my favourite.  Whenever I caught sight of my legs I felt they looked blah.  They might have to be warmth-only stockings.  Still, knit stockings, knit dress, cosy.

Unlike last week when I had an unexpected sleep-in, I was pleased to wake up on time this morning and have time for photos before school.  It was slightly chilly in the courtyard though so I was glad of the jacket and scarf.  Bonus: the sun was at the exact right place to come in from the east but also reflect off the windows of the buildings on the ridge to the west. 

Blue 'world' earrings.  Wasn't so enthusiastic about hair today.

Stripes on the stockings - but only at the front.

Today's photo:

I got to the station just after the sun had cleared the city so we had a flood of light.

Movie #19 - Hugo

I must warn you, I didn't watch the whole movie.  When I got home yesterday evening, my parents had already started watching this.  They filled me in on what I'd missed (not heaps) but I also had to watch it like a normal person.  No stopping to write down quotes or anything like that - although I did keep scooting in front of the coffee table to where my phone was charging to take some notes.  So this is not the most in-depth reflection.  What I did find, though, were 2 distinct themes which connect better than I originally thought.  Machines; and dreams.  

Hugo, living in the clock of a Parisian train station, is literally surrounded by machine - cogs and wheels and things working and things needing to be fixed.  If he doesn't keep the station clock wound then he might be found out as an orphan; he also has a need to return his father's automaton to working condition.  Looking out over the city one night, he says to his friend Isabelle that he thinks the whole world is a giant machine.  And every machine has the exact right number of parts, never any more than is needed.  And if the world is a machine with the exact right number of parts, then I must be a necessary part - and so must you.  The hard bit, of course, is knowing what your part has to do for the machine to be able to work, what your purpose is in this grand scheme.  But it is so hard, sometimes, to remember we are all necessary, even when we feel unimportant and invisible, and even those people who make us uncomfortable or annoyed are also necessary.

One thing Hugo loves is adventure.  You know you're having an adventure if there's a chance you could get in trouble (good advice, there).  His father used to take him to the movies, and now Hugo will steal into the theatre to watch 'dreams in the middle of the day'.  This movie is populated with dreamers.  And not the sort of dreamers who just sit around and dream, but those who have a dream and do all they can to reach that dream, no matter how fantastic.  Now, some people might think that magic tricks are unnecessary; movies are unnecessary; art and music and poetry are all unnecessary.  But if anyone has a particular talent for any of these things - and, as we know now, we are all necessary parts of the giant machine that is the world - then any of those things must be necessary.  This is rather topical for Queenslanders right now, as some of our state-funded school music programmes have just been axed.  Not happy, Campbell.  Everyone has a natural inclination towards something, and everyone's inclination is a part of the greater whole.  Knowing that this is partly autobiographical of the life of the director, Martin Scorsese, makes it even more pointed - all those kids stealing into the movies, acting their dreams, could turn into famous movie directors of the future.

Aside from the machines and dreams, the support-part of the station inspector, played by Sacha Baron Cohen, is delightful.  So plodding, so stereotypically police, but giving love advice to his superiors - I'd watch this movie again just for that.  And such a different role for this actor that I had to look up who he was (always a good sign).  There wasn't as much information on the music that was used, which I would have appreciated as it was really well done. 

Today's photo:

The afternoon light in here in the winter warms my heart.  Especially when there is a whole stack of fruit in front of the window.

A Whole Day of New

Well, not the whole day... But it's after midnight when I start this, and most of it was a First Time.

After my morning students, I went to the Brisbane Art Expo at the Convention Centre.  It was so inspiring!  I now have so many ideas, as well as the Nike slogan, in my head.  One thing I know stops me from starting something is when I have so many possible ideas and none of them is coming forward as The One.  So I think I just need to start with one, doesn't matter if it's necessarily the Right One, and Just Do It. 

Next to the art expo was a vintage exhibition, and once you were in one you could go to the other.  It was very much like stepping into holiday houses from my childhood, stocked with the 'old' stuff of their owners.  Some of the dresses and hats were just beautiful, some had such awful scratchy or synthetic material, and when we saw the undergarments I was very glad I'm living in this age!  There was a Marilyn corner, with copies of dresses from some of her films.  One of them I adore and would love to have... if only I had the figure...

Although today (as in, July 14 - as I said, it's after midnight) is Bastille Day, we celebrated Columbia's National Day today (it's actually July 19).  A whole lot of people, not all of them from Central and South America, were partying in a park in Yeronga.  This was, of course, my mariachi debut.  The stage plan put the singer and violins at the front so I felt a little out there, but the sound was done quite well so it wasn't a huge issue.  Playing to an audience is always going to change things, and we weren't perfect, but we did a pretty good job.  There were lots of people dancing, especially little kids, most of whom were really dressed up and had Columbia's national colours painted on their faces.

There was only one 'green room' area, so as soon as we were off stage, we walked into a sea of dresses.  National dancers with the most massive skirts, and flower garlands, and suits - quite overwhelming.  I watched a bit of the fandango before heading off to dinner.

We went Mexican for dinner, naturally - to Villa Maria in Norman Park.  I'm pleased to report, my Spanish is improving in the comprehension department - I could listen to whole conversations and pick up what was being said.  Yay!  Of course, I also listened to whole conversations without understanding much apart from the charades so there's still a bit to go...  This place has nearly an entire staff of native Spanish speakers, as well as authentic Mexican and Latin American dishes.  There were 2 I definitely can't get at my 2 local Mexican places, so we ordered both and split them in half (just let me consult my notes here - I'm glad I wrote down what they were because I'd be very vague otherwise!): Tostadas a la huitlacoche; and Pollo con mole. 

Pollo con mole

I can't work out which would be my favourite, they were both delicious.  The tostadas were like crispy tortilla shells with chicken inside, and something to do with mushrooms there too.  The mole - how could I not like this?! - was chicken with a chocolate (but savoury) sauce.... yum... 

Tostadas a la huitlacoche - photo not by me!

We even shared dessert, a Mexican Flan - a cross between a creme brulee and a cheesecake, it really reminded me of creme caramels.  Does anyone else remember them?  Custardy gelatinous stuff with caramel sauce, came in the pot, easy happiness.

It's a good thing there was a strawberry on top to turn it into something healthy :)

Today's photo:

I actually had a moment of questioning this morning.  When I went into my room after breakfast, there was an odd phenomenon happening, and it took me a moment to realise it was sunlight.  It's been ages!  This was taken from the bus, crossing the Victoria Bridge after the art expo.  I like seeing blue skies, and I really like the effect of the bending light pole.